How to Fix Error Code 0x8020002e on Windows 8.1

In most ways Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system makes tons of advancements. It allows users to quickly download apps from the Windows Store and install them without ever having to worry about them being dangerous. It also allows users to instantly purchase new apps for use on multiple devices.

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This is a landmark change for Windows and something that the Windows ecosystem has needed for ages. Installing apps onto a Windows device has always been sort of a gamble. Even installing apps from legit services like Downloads.com could include unwanted utilities and changes to a system that the user hadn’t intended on. At worse, downloading an application from the wrong source could leave users with a virus or spyware.

While the Windows Store seeks to address many of those issues, this is still Windows. That means that strange things can happen and devices can suddenly stop behaving in a manner that they’re supposed to. That’s exact what’s happening to Windows 8.1 users who get the error 0x8020002e.

What causes this error isn’t always clear. However, its symptoms are straight forward. Users getting the error are unable to install Windows Store apps, regardless of how many times they restart or try installing different apps. For most Windows 8 devices, the 0x8020002e error is something that users can live with. After all, these users can still install apps directly from their web browser. For users of the Surface, Surface 2 and devices running the Windows 8 RT this problem is compounded by the only real difference between those devices and others that simply run Windows 8. Windows 8 RT devices can’t install desktop apps, effectively leaving those users up the creek if they’re getting error 0x8020002e.

So how do users fix the 0x8020002e error in Windows 8.1? For now, the news is pretty bleak.

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There are tons of methods for fixing this error floating around. A few have users have noted in Microsoft’s own Answers forums that running a new utility fixed the error for them. However, many more have concluded that using the utility didn’t fix the error. Really, the only sure way to address the error is to refresh your Windows 8 or Windows 8 RT device and that is relatively easy. Here’s how to refresh your Windows 8 PC and fix the 0x8020002e error.

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To confirm that you have the error go to your Windows Store app and try to install a random app. Choose an app in the Windows Store and hit Install. If you get the same error code then proceed.

Press the Windows key on your keyboard or the Windows button below or near your device’s touchscreen.

Mouse users should place their cursor in the top-right corner of their device’s screen to open the Charms Bar. Touch users should place their finger on the right edge of their screen and slide their finger to the left to reveal the Charms Bar. Now tap or click on the Settings Charm.

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In the fly out menu, tap or click on Chance PC Settings.

Tap or click on Update and Recovery in the menu on left side of your screen. It’s the menu item at the bottom.

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Inside Update and Recovery tap or click on Recovery.

Now, you have three options on the right. The first one allows you to Refresh your PC. This option keeps your files and settings in their place but reinstalls Windows around them. This is the option you want to use if you’re troubleshooting the 0x8020002e error for the first time.

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Do not tap or click on Remove everything and reinstall Windows 8 unless you have already tried to refresh your device because of the error and it hasn’t worked. Selecting this option will absolutely clear everything on your device and if you don’t have back ups that could be a seriously problem. Again, only select this option if you’ve tried once before and it hasn’t worked.

Windows 8 will now check to see if your device has enough space to perform the Refresh. If it does, tell it to proceed. If not, you’ll need to move your media to a USB flash drive or hard drive.

Now that you’re device has finished. Go back to the Windows Store by tapping or click on the Windows Store app on your screen. It’s the app represented by a shopping bag.

Type the name of the Windows Store app you’d like to install from the Windows Store. In our example, we’re installing Twitter.

Tap or click on Install from Twitter’s Windows Store. Now wait to see if the app is installed correctly. If it hasn’t then you’ll get a notification on the top right side of your screen.

That’s it, if the app has installed than you’ve fixed the 98×000 error. All the rest of your pictures, music and videos should be exactly where it was before the refresh. If this haven’t worked than you’ll need to back up all of your information onto an external hard drive and Restore your PC instead of refreshing it. Be aware that resetting your device will also get rid of any programs you have installed. It’s best to only use that option as a last resort.